“Howdy! You probably can’t remember, but name’s Applejack!”

I nodded, blinded by sunlight and a heavy load of confusion.

”What was I doing here again?” I asked myself, nodding politely so not to offend. The pony, Applejack, smiled and pointed toward another pony, her brother.

“Oh! How could I forget? This is my brother! Big Macintosh! He’s the big guns,” she winked, whispering in my ear, “if ya’ know what I mean.”

I shivered, a little shaken by that last comment. I said nothing; I still didn’t want to offend. Big Mac stared at me with narrowed eyes; I began to wonder if I had offended him in any way. I laughed nervously; Applejack smiled and slapped me on the back,

“Listen, why don’t you two catch up? I’ve got a little something to do over here.”

Once again, she winked at me, wandering off into the barn behind me. Big Macintosh said nothing.

“So uh… some sister, huh?”

”Oops. Care to try again?”

I blushed, “Oh, uh. I mean, you two must get along well! She seems to care about you a lot.”

Big Mac was not amused. No, instead, he leaned closer and pointed toward Applejack before saying, “Nope.”

I gulped a big one. Nervous, I tried not to think about it any longer. He backed off and returned to his work. Applejack approached me,

“So! How was it? Ah, never mind that. List’n, I don’t want to be a hassle, but I heard you mumbl’n yesterday. Are you alright after what happened? You don’t really seem the type who’d be drinking so late.”

I gave a hopeful smile, “Yeah… I’m fine. I’ll just have to find another place to live. Can’t be too hard, right?”

Uneasily, she looked around her before whispering in my ear,

“Listen,” she said, “I know we don’t usually have overnight company, but as long as you pull your weight and help a share, I’ll be willing to put in a few words for you. How’s that?”

I was astounded, “You’d do that?”

She gave the most adorable laugh, “Why, of course I would! There’s nothing to it! It’ll just take a bit of time to talk to the family and all.”

She stopped and looked down, “Listen,” said she, her tone deepened; I listened attentively.

“I know you don’t have a place to stay,” she took her hat off, “I know it can be hard, but if you don’t tell anypony. And I mean anypony, I’ll let you stay with me until I get properly get you situated.”

I wasn’t sure of what she was offering, ”Did she want me to…”

She blushed, “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“

“No, no! I understand!” I smiled; I had an idea of what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to run with it, “I can’t thank you enough!”

She blushed, “R-really? Well, I’m honored!”

I smiled, ”Was this really happening?”

She walked me to the dusty barn and grabbed my knapsack, throwing it to me; I barely caught it.

“You’ll have to come back later, okay?” She tilted her head and watched as I peer inside the bag making sure everything was as I left it, “Big Mac doesn’t take too kindly to strangers, especially humans.”

When I had checked everything, I slung the bag over my shoulder, “I don’t get it, y’know?”

Applejack stopped whatever she was doing and looked at me with confusion.

“All this hatred between our two races; so what if we stand on two legs? I don’t see what all the commotion is…”

Her brilliant green eyes widened for a moment before she began to smile once again, “I like you, Nathan,” she said, walking closer to me and placing a hoof on my chest, “You’ve got opinions and ideas,” she turned around and walked to the barn door, flicking her tail in my face, “I like that about you.”

I blushed and followed her to the exit.

“Don’t take it weird, but I’ll see you tonight,” she waved. I headed toward Ponyville, waving back to her. Once again, she was the one who made me smile.

”What am I doing?”

Author's Note

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